Syrian conflict is not about rivalry among people from different sects, but a continuity of US design to cripple Muslim countries, says Dr Sadollah Zare. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
Academics, researchers and diplomats at a roundtable discussion expressed their concern over the Syrian crisis and blamed the imperialist powers for plotting to divide Muslim states and grabbing their resources.
The event was organised by an Islamabad-based think-tank, Muslim Institute, on “The current situation in Middle East and fears of sectarian polarization in Muslim world” on Thursday said a press release.
“Conflict in Syria is not about rivalry among people from different sects or religions, but a continuity of American and western hegemonic designs to cripple the Muslim countries politically and economically,” Dr Sadollah Zarei from Tabatabaei University, Iran and Director of the Thought Makers Study Centre said.
“They are trying to occupy resources of the Muslim world,” he added.
He urged the academics and intellectuals to confront the prevailing challenges jointly to get internationally acknowledged as a united political entity.
During the discussion, Muslim Institute chairman, Sahibzada Sultan Ahmad Ali, said that the internal and external challenges faced by the Middle East cannot be solved quickly as every regional player has its stakes in it.
“The solution lies in research, foresight and prudence, not in emotionalism, irrationality and intolerance,” he said.
Former Ambassador Amir Anwar Shadani, however, cautioned against the dangers of a deadly war looming large on the Middle East.
“The Middle has remained divided after the cold war with one side having friendly ties with America and soft approach towards Israel while the other side having ties with countries opposed to both.”
He added that apart from the old rifts, the sectarian dimension has escalated the situation and it has become so intense that even the Sunni Hamas seems to be moving away from the Iranian camp indicated by the shifting of its central office from Damascus to Doha.
“Though the current situation in Syria is alarming but newly elected Iranian President’s indications of improving ties with Saudi Arabia is a positive omen,” he said.
Islamabad Strategic Studies Institute Chairman, former ambassador Gul Hanif, in his concluding remarks stated sectarianism has always been used to weaken Muslims and it is the need of the hour to discourage such forces and their toadies. “It is imperative to formulate collective and consensual strategy to counter these plots,” he said
The discussion was attended by academics, researchers, defence analysts, students of different universities and research associates of think-tanks.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 14th, 2013.
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The America's goal in Syria is to get rid of Assad, put a puppet in power, then get rid of Russia's military base and then let Israel gradually steal Syria's land the same way it is stealing Palestinian land.
It is always cheaper for the Americans to get Muslims to kill each other rather than have the Americans kill them.
The reasons why the Americans have made so much noise about Iran nuclear energy plant is because: * It is a distraction from having everyone focused on Israel. * It is great for US military weapons sales. * Divide the masses so that they are played off against each other if convenient.
what have they done to end the shia-sunni debacle;it is 21st century,and they can't still learn to live together.OH! we are going to kill each other because somebody is going to steal from us.Nice try!!
WOW, just where have these "experts" been hiding for the last few years as the (under reported in Pakistan) "Arab Spring" swept across the Mideast? So far near a 100,000 (mostly Muslims) have reportedly been killed in the Syrian struggle, and probably near a million displaced into neighboring countries as this War continues, but now these "Elites" have suddenly decided that it is all a PLOT by the US to grab resources!!!! Curiously missing is any mention of the Gulf Council States and the LARGE role they are playing in this struggle, but we can't possibly EVER criticize another Muslim country, can we??? No No No! Look! Up in the sky, it's a bird, no a plane, NO IT'S (drum roll please) DA FOREIGN HAND!!